Germany’s parliament passed a law on Wednesday to allow religious circumcision, clarifying the legal situation after a court said the rite amounted to grievous bodily harm in a ruling that caused international uproar. Members of the Bundestag or lower house
By NICHOLAS PAPHITISAssociated PressATHENS, GreeceGreece will buy back €31.9 billion ($41.5 billion) of its bonds from private investors at a third of their nominal price, the debt agency said Wednesday, lightening its crushing debt load and meeting a key condition
Iran congratulated North Korea on Wednesday for its “successful” launch of a long-range rocket, an incident which provoked global condemnation, and denied having a role in preparing the launch. Tehran “congratulates the people and the government” of North Korea on
By MUNEEZA NAQVI and RAVI NESSMANAssociated PressNEW DELHIWith an instrument perplexing to most Westerners, Ravi Shankar helped connect the world through music. The sitar virtuoso hobnobbed with the Beatles, became a hippie musical icon and spearheaded the first rock benefit
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns understands the horrors faced by five New York City teens unfairly charged with rape back in 1989. “The Central Park Five,” the new documentary co-directed by Burns on the subject, lets the five victims recall that
(AP) Gunman opens fire at Oregon mall; Suspect, 2 deadBy STEVEN DUBOIS and JONATHAN J. COOPERAssociated PressPORTLAND, Ore.The mall Santa was waiting for the next child’s Christmas wish when shots rang out, causing the shopping mall to erupt into chaos.
(AP) Panetta in Afghanistan to meet with KarzaiBy ROBERT BURNSAP National Security WriterKABUL, AfghanistanU.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday for an unannounced visit to consult with top commanders and President Hamid Karzai. The visit comes at
(AP) US backs new Syrian opposition ahead of conferenceBy PAUL SCHEMMAssociated PressMARRAKECH, MoroccoA Syrian opposition spokesman called for “real support” and not just recognition on Wednesday, hours after the U.S. declared that the new Syrian opposition coalition was the “legitimate
(AP) US economy could withstand brief fall off ‘cliff’By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABERAP Economics WriterWASHINGTONIt’s the scenario that’s been spooking employers and investors and slowing the U.S. economy: Congress and the White House fail to strike a budget deal by New
(AP) Fed expected to revamp bond buying programBy MARTIN CRUTSINGERAP Economics WriterWASHINGTONThe Federal Reserve is wrapping up 2012 the way it began the year, searching for ways to help a U.S. economy that is still struggling with high unemployment and
(AP) First section of WTC spire set to be hoistedNEW YORKThe first section of a spire that will rise atop the World Trade Center’s tallest building is set to be lifted into place on Wednesday. Nine of 18 giant steel
By HYUNG-JIN KIMAssociated PressSEOUL, South KoreaNorth Korea appeared to successfully fire a long-range rocket Wednesday, defying international warnings as the regime of Kim Jong Un pushes forward with its quest to develop the technology needed to deliver a nuclear warhead.
NBC Sports talker Bob Costas caught plenty of heat for launching into an anti-gun rant in the wake of the murder/suicide committed by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher. Last night, Costas waded into the subject once more, but this time
North Korea carried out Wednesday a widely criticised rocket launch, seen by many in the international community as a disguised ballistic missile test, the South Korean defence ministry said.
HBO wants to stay in the “Game Change” business. The liberal cable outlet quickly gobbled up the rights to “Double Down: Game Change 2012” by political authors Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. The book won’t hit store shelves until Fall of 2013, but
Today, Media Matters featured Breitbart News in its front-page salvo against conservative media, which it labeled a “racket,” following in the footsteps of discredited former conservative Joe Scarborough of MSNBC. Media Matters acknowledged the explosive growth of Breitbart News: [I]n
By CHRIS TALBOTTAP Music WriterRandy Newman’s glad he didn’t have to do anything drastic to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The members of Rush are choosing to let bygones be bygones. And Quincy Jones, well, he’s
(AP) `Lincoln’ leads Critics’ Choice Awards nomineesLOS ANGELESFilm critics love “Lincoln.” The historical drama earned a record-breaking 13 nominations for the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. The Broadcast Film Critics Association announced the nominees for its 18th annual awards ceremony Tuesday
(AP) Mich. House approves right-to-work limiting unionsBy JOHN FLESHER and JEFF KAROUBAssociated PressLANSING, Mich.The Republican-led Michigan House has approved a contentious right-to-work bill limiting unions’ strength. The measure approved Tuesday morning deals with public-sector workers. Another bill focusing on the
(AP) Fed is expected to launch new bond buying programBy MARTIN CRUTSINGERAP Economics WriterWASHINGTONWith a nervous eye on the “fiscal cliff,” the Federal Reserve is expected this week to announce a new bond-buying plan to support the U.S. economy. The
By CAITLIN R. KINGAssociated PressLuke Bryan didn’t want the American Country Awards to end. He cleaned up during the fan-voted show, earning nine awards, including artist and album of the year. His smash hit “I Don’t Want This Night To
(AP) Surprise: New insurance fee in health overhaul lawBy RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVARAssociated PressWASHINGTONYour medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It’s a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under
(AP) Obama says he ‘won’t compromise’ on taxesBy BEN FELLERAP White House CorrespondentREDFORD, Mich.President Barack Obama warned Monday that he “won’t compromise” on his demands that the wealthiest Americans pay higher tax rates, digging in on the chief sticking point
Colorado became the second US state to legalize marijuana for recreational use Monday, as its governor signed a voter-backed proposal into law. But justice officials warned that smoking pot for fun remains against federal law, reflecting the clouds around the
A decades-long battle to cripple unions in the United States has shifted to the heart of the labor movement as Michigan’s Republican governor prepares to sign “right-to-work” legislation. Unions are a key source of financial and grassroots get-out-the-vote support for
